Gary Caldwell sets his sights on coming in from the cold for Gordon Strachan

Gary Caldwell is on the comeback trail and hopes to pull on the dark blue of Scotland once again.

Timing is everything for the professional footballer. And Gary Caldwell can ruefully reflect that it deserted him in a season of triumph and disaster, sackings and missed opportunities.

Injury meant Caldwell watched Wigan wIn the FA Cup only to find themselves relegated from the Premier League. Soon after, Roberto Martinez quit the club to take over at Everton and was replaced by Owen Coyle.

The former St Johnstone manager was then axed just months into his new job before Uwe Rosler was unveiled as his successor.

“A lot has certainly happened in the time I’ve been out injured,” admits Caldwell. “It has been quite a turbulent time for the club when you think of everything that has gone on in the last seven or eight months.

“I missed the FA Cup Final because of injury and the same goes for the run-in at the end of last season when we suffered relegation.

“In the summer, I had surgery on my troublesome hip. That has kept me out since, although I’m now getting to the stage where I think I’m only a matter of weeks away from returning if everything goes to plan.

“But since I last played Roberto Martinez has left the club, Owen Coyle has come and gone and Uwe Rosler is now the manager. It’s all change and it’s been difficult not being able to play and help the team in these times.”

Caldwell is, however, well on his way to recovery. A return to the training pitch is only two or three weeks away and the Scotland internationalist is counting down the days until he is back playing again.

It’s been an extremely slow and frustrating process for the former Celtic captain but the hip operation that has ruled him out for over eight months was needed to save his career.

“I’ve not played consistently since last Christmas,” Gary continues. “I had to take injections just to get through training sessions and matches.

“I always knew I would require an operation in the summer. It’s not as though it was all new to me as I actually had a double hip operation three years earlier and it was the same surgeon.

“Basically, it was the wear and tear of playing. I had played over 100 games for both club and country in that time. I’m now 32, so I would hope this latest one will be enough to see me through until the end of my playing career.”

And that experience has helped Caldwell win the mental battle every player faces when they are out for a prolonged period.

“You need to stay focused and not allow yourself to get too down,” he says. “It is important not to set yourself specific targets you just need to do whatever it takes to make a complete recovery.

“I drive through to the University of Bolton two or three mornings a week to use the weightless running machine they have on their campus.

“After that, I’m back in the car and travel to the training ground to continue my rehab work with the club’s medical staff.

“But I’m hoping to be back on the training pitch in two or three weeks, then it will be reserve matches before trying to get back in the first-team.

“I need to say, though, Uwe has been great at keeping me involved. I’ve been watching a lot of our matches from up in the stand and then going down and discussing what I’ve picked up on with him at the interval.

“It might not come close to playing but, at least in the meantime, I feel as if I am contributing.”

Caldwell was excited when the blow of losing Martinez to Everton was softened by the appointment of Owen Coyle.

Unfortunately for the former Hibs and Celtic defender, he was powerless to help Coyle from losing his job less than five months after taking over.

“On the day Owen left the club I actually said to him how gutted I was that I couldn’t help him out on the pitch,” Gary continues. He just said that was the way things worked out at times but I’ve no doubts he’ll get back into management.

“It’s a pity how things worked out for him here. He had to make a lot of changes to the playing staff within a short period of time and a lot of his signings are now playing very well. Owen is a good man, and I’m sure he’ll get back in the game sooner rather than later.”

Caldwell also hopes it’s a case of sooner rather than never for him in terms of a return to the national team.

Gordon Strachan has formed a defensive pairing of Grant Hanley and Russell Martin for Scotland, but the man with 55 caps to his name is hungry to add to that tally.

“I’d love to get back into the Scotland squad,” says Caldwell. “It is something that is really important to me. I’ve always said I would never retire from international football as playing for my country means everything to me. I’d never close the door on that.

“If I’m playing well for Wigan, then you just never know. First and foremost, I need to work hard to get back into the team here when I’m fully fit. If I’m not playing for my club then I’ll not be playing for Scotland.

“And I know it will be even tougher to then get into the Scotland team because of how well the team has been performing.

“But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping to get back involved at international level and, hopefully, there are exciting times ahead for us. If anyone is going to lead us to a major competition then it is Gordon.”